Baldwin County, Alabama

Baldwin County was established on December 21, 1809, ten years before Alabama became a state, and is the third oldest county in the state. Prior to being established, the county was a part of the Mississippi territory until 1817, when the area passed into the Alabama territory. Statehood was gained by Alabama in 1819.

A few interesting facts about Baldwin County:

Bay Minette became the county seat of Baldwin County in 1901. Prior to this date, the county seat had been located in McIntosh Bluff, Blakeley and Daphne.

Baldwin County is the largest county in Alabama by area and includes a portion of Mobile Bay.

Baldwin County is the 12th largest county east of the Mississippi River and is larger than both the states of Delaware and Rhode Island.

William Bartram, America’s first native-born naturalist/artist, explored Baldwin County during the Revolutionary era, making the first scientific notations of the flora, fauna and inhabitants he encountered. As the appointed botanist of Britain’s King George III, Bartram traveled 2,400-miles during three journeys into the southern colonies in 1775-1776, collecting rare plants and specimens and making detailed drawings of plants and animals.

State of Alabama

The Alabama Territory was established on March 3, 1817 by the same act which created the state of Mississippi. Alabama was granted statehood on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd state to join the Union.

A few interesting facts about Alabama:

The word Alabama means ‘an ethnic community’ in the Creek Indian language.

Alabama workers built the first rocket to put humans on the moon.

Alabama is the only state with all major natural resources needed to make iron and steel. It is also the largest supplier of cast-iron and steel pipe products.

In 1704, Alabama introduced the Mardi Gras to the western world in the City of Mobile. The celebration is held on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.

In 1886, the oldest Electric Trolley System of the world was launched in Montgomery.

The oldest state-sponsored archival bureau in the country is The Alabama Department of Archives.

In 1814, General Andrew Jackson overpowered the Creek Indians in the Battle at Horseshoe Bend, ending the reign of the Creek Confederacy and making future-President Jackson a war hero. After this incident, the indigenous Americans surrendered almost 50% of the current state territory to the U.S.

Magnolia Springs has the only all-water mail route in the United States, with daily delivery by boat.